Spiritual Art / Entrepreneurship – Mariam Gaber
Throwback to one of our insightful talks on entrepreneurship and art.
“It isn’t just about loving something; you have to be consistent and persistent. You can’t deal with your passion at face value; it has to consume your body and soul, and drive you to keep going even when it isn’t convenient.”
Mariam Gaber is a Product Designer at Speakol. In an extraordinary, inspiring talk, she shared with the team how she discovered her passion for Moroccan art and spirituality, and how she managed to establish a profiting project by exploring the beauty and depth of her newfound interest.
Mariam says, “it all started with my graduation project. I wanted to create an artwork based on “Obet el Gholy” in Egypt; it is an old place that hosts cultural, spiritual, and artistic performances. Through my extensive research, I learned more about Sufism in various countries, which introduced me to Sufism in Morroco and led me to further explore the beauty of Moroccan art. It became the spark that ignited my passion for I instantly fell in love. I was inspired by the beauty and spirituality of Moroccan culture, patterns, and artworks; all my paintings and drawings reflected my fascination.
In 2016, I launched “Roh” which is Arabic for Soul. I started making notebooks and planners using the beautiful and vibrant colors and designs of Moroccan art. The content, however, was spiritual, reflecting divine qualities. A sense of ‘belonging and connection’ developed between me and this form of art, especially after my trip to Morocco. There, I immersed myself into everything Morrocan.
There is a vast international community that shares the same passion and enthusiasm; therefore, I am lucky to learn more and be able to express my passion through art.”
About Speakol
Speakol is the most extensive content discovery and native advertising network in the MENA and GCC region. Our technology enables publishers to boost users’ engagement and monetize their online presence and allows advertisers to target potential customers and promote their brands.
Speakol believes it is only as strong as it’s people. We are always on the lookout to infuse our team with new talents. If you are interested in joining the team, visit our Careers Page.
Animal Love – Alaa Amr
Putting the passion in compassion, Alaa Amr, our Inbound Account Manager inspires us with her love for animals and reminds us of the importance of understanding and living in harmony with these beautiful souls.
“I discovered my love for animals 10 years ago when my friend’s cat gave birth, and I received one of the kittens. I was a little indifferent at the beginning but thought I would give it a go. Little did I know it would turn into an obsession. Now, a decade later, I dream of opening an animal shelter to help these beautiful creatures find the homes they deserve.”
Alaa actively reports animal abusers and saves strays from people, who attempt to poison them. “You have to be compassionate and connect with these animals, they have souls, and it’s not their fault. Those who adopt, their pets aren’t pets; they’re part of the family as any other member.”
She continues, “I would like to remind people that during these difficult times, it is important to remember that animals do not carry the COVID-19 virus. I see people abandoning their pets under the misconception that they may become infected. Animals are safer than all of us.
Alaa concludes with advisory words of wisdom: “I think one of the best decisions new parents can take is to provide their babies with pets. It teaches responsibility, love, and kindness instead of aggression. It’s simpler than people think once you start.
Cats can be a little less demanding than dogs in my view. It’s good to remember that cats (and most pets) will adapt to their owners, so don’t be surprised if you see yourself in your furry best friend”.
About Speakol
Speakol is the most extensive content discovery and native advertising network in the MENA and GCC region. Our technology enables publishers to boost users’ engagement and monetize their online presence and allows advertisers to target potential customers and promote their brands.
Speakol believes it is only as strong as it’s people. We are always on the lookout to infuse our team with new talents. If you are interested in joining the team, visit our Careers Page.
Speakol Speaks Out On Being Back In The Office
“We are back to our regularly scheduled program”.
Months ago, the world was overtaken by storm with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries announced lockdowns and companies had to make tough decisions regarding their employees and their operations, which impacted the world economy to a downfall.
However, the hard work of sleepless medical personnel, the commitment of rule-abiding citizens, and the strict government regulations have finally started to pay off. We finally see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel with the lifting of restrictions and life slowly going back to normal.
As the saying goes, “The show must go on,” and eventually it has. With companies placing safety regulations and welcoming their staff back to their offices, Speakol has joined the conversation.
We talked with our colleagues to get their take on being back in the office during these times after working from home for such a long time.
Our Chief Commercial Officer (C.C.O), Youssef Assaad, gave us an enlightening perspective:
“Managing a team from home has its challenges. However, having faith in their commitment, and capabilities has helped the boat sail smoothly. Being back has proved a greater advantage in synchronizing and harmonizing the team to reach the goals we all work hard to achieve. I’m also very pleased to see our management and HR department take the necessary precautions regarding the novel coronavirus, prioritizing our people’s safety and health.”
Alaa, our HR wiz, who is making sure everyone goes back to a safe environment, comments:
“Very happy. I feel like I’m taking the first steps back to my normal life, and I can’t wait to go back to a full sense of stability and familiar routine. I’m very grateful.”
We all are Alaa, especially since returning to the office, has also meant enjoying the new office for the first time. With the celebration of the new office, we have not overlooked the importance of maintaining social distancing, sanitation and wearing face masks.
“I’m really excited to be working in the new office and I’m loving the seating arrangements and design, and I’m definitely happier to be able to see all the new people whom we were introduced to and communicated with over zoom.”
From our newcomers, who have joined the team during our working from home period:
“I feel united with the family, and felt what Speakol is actually all about.”
“As a newcomer, I’m glad that I’m in the office soon after starting, interacting with the team better compared to doing it online. It’s easier to learn here than it is through zoom calls since my colleagues are right next to me.”
We’re all glad to have each and every one of you, and it’s definitely a pleasure to welcome everyone on board.
And since a picture is worth a thousand words, we thought a boomerang was worth a million. We asked our Publishers Relationship Manager how she felt, being back in the office after so long. Her response:
Well received Shorok.
It’s normal that with change comes a buffer period before finding a resemblance of “normality”:
“It feels a little weird after being home for so long and it took some time to adjust mentally and emotionally, but definitely way more excited to work among everyone rather than alone in my room”
“It’s taking some time to get used to the old sleeping hours, rather than waking up 10 minutes before our morning meetings, but productivity as a team is definitely clearer.”
It seems excitement and satisfaction have been all around during this first week back.
“The greatest thing of being back to the office, other than reuniting with my colleagues and having a clearer image of working hours – since working from home for an extended period of time can be challenging as the lines between work and personal time can get blurred at times – is being able to go back to our normal life again.”
“I’ve recharged my productivity and its a change from my home routine. It’s also much easier compared to online communication especially when it comes to designs work.”
Thank you to all those who have helped make the transition period smoother and safer for us all.
About Speakol
Speakol is the most extensive content discovery and native advertising network in the MENA and GCC region. Our technology enables publishers to boost users’ engagement and monetize their online presence and allows advertisers to target potential customers and promote their brands.
Speakol believes it is only as strong as it’s people. We are always on the lookout to infuse our team with new talents. If you are interested in joining the team, visit our Careers Page.
Speakol Celebrates World Mental Health Day
Today the world celebrates World Mental Health Day to remind us of the importance of being aware of how other people around us might be suffering from things we know nothing of, and Speakol celebrates with it.
Life is not always easy; in fact, for most people, it rarely is. It’s full of expectations & duties: duties towards your family, job, society, and even your friends and social life. When there aren’t any duties, there are problems to solve, losses to grieve, or simply the pressures of juggling everything at once.
However, staying aware of this fact can help alter our behavior and take us a long way. Our HR guru, Alaa Hassan, gives us a powerful note on how this matter is crucially important within the corporate world.
“This year specifically was a big hit to a lot of people’s mental health. Jobs were lost, families destroyed, and even lives lost. So much has happened in a matter of months. Whether you have managed to keep your job or not, everyone was locked up in their homes, unable to live a natural life, which made matters harder. There were many blogs and videos on how to make the most out of this experience, and thankfully we’re starting to come out of it, but it would be naïve to think that people are coming out of it the same way they entered.
As a ‘People Partner’, it is my job to care about people, to maintain a balance between having the business’s best interest at heart but even more so, our colleagues’. For me, even before COVID hit us, it has always been vital to notice the small details. I start worrying if I see someone is crouching or walking around the office with his/her face to the floor, or catch someone, who is generally calm, constantly fidgeting. I also worry if someone is typically outgoing and talkative, suddenly becoming silent and quiet; or notice a steady and gradual decline in someone’s performance, who is generally very hardworking and productive. I am not saying all these changes can be traced back to mental health issues, but I want to highlight that they could be signs; therefore, we must pay attention to these small things.
At Speakol, we incorporate awareness by adding “casual” leave days, besides our regular “annual” leaves, because we understand that there are days that are just more challenging than others to get out of bed and that people just need a breather. We are also aware of how hard our teams work, their dedication and commitment, and how pressuring work can get, which is why it’s important to constantly come up with ways to make people’s day. It can be as simple a gesture as providing everyone with morning donuts, or more significant and elaborate events such as frequent work retreats that help us all unwind.
It’s important to remember to treat employees as human beings with lives and difficulties, who have ups and downs. We should be mindful of this fact and recognize the signs when we see them, stay calm, understand, and act accordingly. We’re all part of one team, and we’re all working towards achieving the same goal.
I encourage every HR member to try and help their colleagues migrate back into the workplace, stay mindful of their behaviors, and be kind and understanding of their teammates’ personal lives and the challenges that they may be going through. Always stay kind.”
Speakol on Women’s Equality Day
The Women of Speakol Speak Out
A famous riddle:
A father and his son are driving and get into an accident, the father doesn’t make it, but the son survives and is rushed to the hospital. Upon arrival, the doctor says, “I can’t operate on this boy because he is my son”. How is this possible?
If you haven’t figured it out, the answer is at the end of the article.
Initially, this day was to commemorate women’s right to vote in the United States in 1920. However, the right to vote was merely the beginning of a movement addressing the oppression women faced within society. Women gaining the same rights, opportunities, and status as men is a fight that cannot be won by one group alone.
We asked the women of Speakol how they feel about this movement, especially in Egypt, what areas are more affected, and what needs to be done.
“As a mother first and an HR Business Partner second, I realize that it starts by raising my kids. I constantly teach my son to depend on himself and not expect the women in his life to “serve” him in any way, for the responsibilities are the same for both genders. As an HR person, I have to be gender-blind and give everyone a fair opportunity, seeing candidates as human beings not as “men” or “women”. Companies need to be mindful of women’s empowerment and equality. Management should never assume or think that women have more duties that would hinder their commitment or focus. Egypt still doesn’t enjoy full equality, but it is getting better than it was in the ’80s. Now we see more women as ministers, so I think we’re moving in the right direction.”
Powerful words from our HR Business Partner, Alaa Hassan. Hopefully, we keep moving towards that goal. We continue with a statement from our Branding Manager, Sarah Marsafy:
“Women worldwide have come a long way in terms of seeking equality. Still, I believe it is a work in progress. We, women, are not done yet; we work every day to prove our worth, capabilities, and talents. Therefore, it is inspiring to work with women, true leaders, who are constantly challenging themselves and their teams. We need to continue empowering women and granting them room to grow and realize their potential.”
And women continue to prove that there should not be a need to prove their capabilities in the first place.
“We’re still not there yet, but we’re seeing change. I think rural areas suffer the most; we need to raise awareness, organize campaigns, and educate the general public for equality to become part of everyone’s life. In Cairo, the situation is better, and people realize the importance of the issue. Parenting is the first step to achieve this goal. We have to treat our sons the same way we do our daughters and teach them that they get the same treatment, share the same responsibilities and duties. Companies have a large role to play; they cannot discriminate based on gender and discard all prejudice against married women and mothers, which we see a lot in Egypt. If there is a vacancy for a managerial position, it has to depend on proficiency and qualifications. We have to make sure we train and empower women the same way we do with men.” – Asmaa Alim, Sales Manager.
It’s not enough for women to support this movement alone, and our Chief Commercial Officer, Youssef Assaad, gave us a strong statement on the matter:
“Women equality is something that should have never been an issue, to begin with, and it’s not enough to support it verbally. It’s important to remember the word equality that men and women should get equal rights, opportunities, and, consequently, returns. But this is a fight women should not go through alone. It’s everyone’s responsibility to acknowledge the problem that has existed for a long time, and men have to make sure they stand firm beside women on this. Most of my team are women, and I can confidently say that my reliance on them and my acknowledgment of them have never been hindered based on their gender. Every day, they prove that it’s important to give women equal rights in every aspect of the business”.
Speakol is also very proud of its ladies in tech. Our Chief Technology Officer, Mahmoud Abdel-Fattah, shared his perspective with us.
“Women equality is an issue that should be addressed by society as a whole. In tech, we need to be gender-blind, and remove any bias or prejudice; we should grant equal opportunities, recognize talent, hard work, and perseverance. We should empower women and support them to realize their full potential. I am privileged to work with talented women, who are not just brilliant at what they do, but who are also leaders, and mentors. They are extremely reliable and hardworking and bring much-needed balance to the team.”
It seems like a long road, but one worth taking, and it can’t be achieved without a collective effort.
And if you haven’t figured it out by now, the answer to the riddle was:
The Doctor was the boy’s mother.
Celebrating World Photography Day with Amr Essam
Say cheese!
It’s a communication method, an industry, and for some, it’s even a profession. But it’s also so much more than that. Photography has been around since the inception of the camera in 1819; it has allowed everyone to experience the world from the photographer’s perspective.
On this day, August 19th, the world celebrates World Photography Day and gives credit to the artistic visionaries who have communicated their emotions, experiences, and moments.
We all rely on photos to document memories, make decisions about where we eat, or which hotel to stay in. Platforms, such as Instagram and Pinterest, have built empires atop this expressive world.
We talked to a colleague at Speakol, Amr Essam, our Product Manager by day and Photography Enthusiast by … well all the time. He shared his journey with us and gave us his take on why Photography well deserves a day of celebration.
“My journey with photography started ever since i was 6 years old, back when we were still using those small film cameras. I enjoyed taking pictures of my family during birthdays or gatherings, and when I went on trips with my schoolmates. I felt like it was a great way to document moments in an exciting way that would stay with me forever. I loved the idea of looking at a picture that reminds you of a happy memory, or seeing the happiness on someone’s face when you take a beautiful picture of them and gifting them with a memory that would last a lifetime. I especially enjoyed documenting nature’s beauty and capturing breathtaking scenery where ever I was.
As I grew older, my enthusiasm and my thirst to learn the techniques of photography grew even more. I started noticing and capturing elements such as the clouds’ movement, the shapes, and shadows of trees, or the colors of the sunset. I found myself delving deeper and taking a more professional direction, reading online and watching tutorials on aspects such as lighting, shutter speeds, and absolutely everything that affects how a picture comes out, all the while practicing through mobile cameras.
I’m always on the move, whether it is traveling within Egypt, abroad, or even taking days off from work specifically to go out and start clicking away. I love visiting Old Cairo or Moaz Street and documenting the beautiful architecture that is all around.
At this point, I invested in buying a professional camera that i practically take with me everywhere I go. I started to learn how to edit pictures to bring out the real beauty of colors and elements of nature. I wanted to highlight the beauty of everything I saw.
Eventually, I shared my work on Adobe Stock and entered competitions. I’m not particularly into wedding photography; I’m more interested in landscapes, architecture, shadows, and street photography. National Geographic inspired me a lot, if I’m honest.”
So we wondered, what would it be like if photography was never invented?
“Pictures are not essays; they enable you to see what words, but allow you interpret them with your own emotions. Photography shows you different parts of the world, and more importantly, through different time periods. It enables us to document history and better understand how people live and experience life. It started with paintings, but photography has given us more details and accuracy. Some people can poetically describe a scene, but I think you can share more through an image. I love how people can feel differently about the same picture, and I’ve noticed this when I look at the comments on my Instagram profile.”
Everyone’s journey is different, and so are their lessons. So we asked Amr what his advice is to people who are still new to this world:
“You have to express things in your own way; be inspired but don’t try to copy anyone else, the best way to stay original is to be yourself. Don’t stick to one form either, look at different photos, and gain a deeper understanding. Technically speaking, I’d give 4 recommendations:
1) Always try to include more depth and dimensions in your pictures. It just gives a greater feel.
2) Have one main objective and ensure that everything around it merely supports it, so that it’s the first thing a viewer’s eyes lies on.
3) Lighting, lighting, lighting! Day time is a great time to take pictures. But if you see an object that is brighter than everything around it during nighttime, take this picture; it can turn into of the most mesmerizing images you ever take.
4) The more the curvature in the surface, the more the variance.
Finally, we asked Amr if there is someone specific he admires or is inspired by and if there anything specific he hopes to one day capture.
“I generally love getting ideas and looking at images published by National Geographic. However, if I were to choose someone specific, I’d say it would be Ameen Qaisaran, a spiritual photographer I personally admire. One day, i’d love to take a picture of the Northern Lights.”
Amr’s incredible work can be found on his Instagram Account or his Adobe Stock Profile
